Jonathan walton



(No Model.) j 2Sheets-Sheet 1.

J. WALTON.

FOLDING CHAIR. No. 510, 59. Patented Dec. 12, 1893.

2 Sheets-Sheet 2. J. WALTON. FOLDING CHAIR.

- (No Model.)

UNITED STATES PATENT "OFFICE.

JONATHAN WALTON, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK.

FOLDINGCHAIR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 510,65 9, dated December 12, 1893. Application filed m 6.13%. serial N... 479,736. (No model.)

I citizen of the United States, residing in the city of Brooklyn, in the county of Kings and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Folding Chairs, of which the following is a description suffi cient to enable othersskilled in the art to which the invention appertains to make and use the same.

The object of my invention is the production of a light, substantially portable folding chair which may be quickly and conveniently opened and adjusted for use, and as quickly folded into the least possible space for storage or transportation.

The invention consists in the special con struction and arrangement of parts herein set forth, incidental features of novelty consisting in a weighted leg frame the front of which rises automatically when the chair is being unfolded, to meet and engage with an automatic latch, on the seat front.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1, is an isometrical perspective of my improved chair, open. Fig. 2, is an edge elevation of the same, closed. Fig.- 3, is a plan of the device closed, as in Fig. 2. Fig. 4, is a side elevation of the chair while being opened; Fig. 5, a central vertical section thereof when fully opened; Fig. 6, an enlarged'detail of the latch fastening with the latch raised; Fig. 7, a similar View showing the latch closed.

The chair consists essentially of four parts pivotally connected the one with the other, namely, the seat, A, the back B, the front leg frame 0, and the rear leg frame D.

The seat A, is formed with the side pieces a, a, the rear ends a, of which extend backward and are pivotallyconnected with the rod 0 upon the rear upper end of the front leg frame 0. The front ends of the side pieces a, are slotted as shown more clearly in Figs. 6-and 7, so as to receive and rest upon the upper front cross bar or rod 01, of the rear leg frame D. This is accomplished by forming slots f, in the under side of the front ends of the side pieces a, the slots f, being formed with offsets f in which the cross rod d, rests when the chair is fully extended, the parts being held in this position by a latch 6, formed with a notch e which allows the latch e, to drop over the rod 01', so that the shoulder 6 looks the said rod;within the offset f The latch f, is pivotally connected to one side piece a, at e. I

The back B, is formed with two transverse braces I), h to which are attached the side pieces b, b, the lower ends of which are pivotally connected with the cross rods 0 Braces G, connect the side pieces a, of the seat with the side pieces I), of the back, said braces G, being pivotally connected to the side pieces a, at their lower ends, while their upper ends are pivotally connected to sliding clasps g, which are free to travel up and down the side pieces I), b, as the back and seat are turned toor from each other.

The rear leg frame D, consists of the two side pieces d, d, connected at top by the cross rod 01, hereinbefore referred to, and at the bottom by a heavy cross piece or counterweight cl The frame D, is pivotally con nected at the points d to the side pieces cof the front leg frame O,'-in such manner that when the cross piece at, is released from the slots f, f in the side pieces a, the side pieces d, d, may be brought parallel to each other as shown in Fig. 2. The front leg frame is stiffened by a series of braces c, 0', its upper rear endsupportingthe cross rod 0 upon which the side pieces a, a, b, I), turn, and its lower front end being formed, with the cross piece 0 It will be noticed that the end 6 of the latch e, projects beyond the front endof its side piece a. This is to afford a convenient means'for raising the latch to clear the cross rod d. The counterweight d causes the frame D, to swing rapidly upon its axis d 01 during the. operation of opening and raising the chair so that its upper front end carrying the cross rod d, is brought immediately into position to effect the engagement of the saidcross bar cl, with the slots f,f in the front ends of the side pieces a, of the seat,the' cross rod d', as it enters the 'slot f, raising the latch 6, until the cross rod passes into the offsetf when the slot 6 in the latch'e, allows the latter to descend and lock the parts in position.

A stop h, is formed upon one of the side pieces 0, of the frame 0, in such position as to prevent the frame D, swinging beyond the proper angle for the engagement of the cross rod (1, with the slots 1, f, in the side pieces a. The lower brace 11 of the back B, acts as a stop for the sliding clasps g, limiting the backward movement and inclination of the sliding clasps 9, attached to the upper ends of the braces G, so as to limit the backward movement and inclination of the seat B. A second stop it, upon one of the side pieces 0, of the front leg frame 0, limits the movement of the forward end of the frame B, when the frames 0, and D, are brought parallel and into coincidence as shown in Figs. 2 and 3.

It will be seen that the four frames A, B,-

O, and D, all fold together so as to present a thickness equal only to the width of the side pieces d, of the frame D, as shown in Fig. 2,- the stops h, h, the back braces 11, b and the clasps g, projecting only slightly beyond the edges of the said'side pieces (1, so that when folded the whole device is thus practically reduced within the smallest possible area, and is in the most convenient shape for handling and for transportation.

The feature of the automatic raising of the front end of the frame D, by reason of the counterweight (Z is of importance in facilitating the rapid opening and adjustment of the parts; while the latch c, in conjunction with the slots f, f in the side piece a, aifords a simple and effective means for locking the whole device rigidly in its extended position.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-- In a folding chair substantially such as de scribed the combination of the frame 0, having the cross bar 0 and stop h; the frame D, having the cross bar (1, and counterweight d the seat A, pivotally connected to the cross bar 0 and having the side pieces a, formed with the slots f, f; the swinging latch e; the back B, pivotally connected to the cross bar 0 and formed with the side pieces I), and crossbars b, 12 and the braces G, pivotally connected to the seat and pivotally connected to the slides g, upon the side pieces I), b, of the back B; the whole arranged and operating substantially in the manner and for the purpose described.

JONATHAN WALTON.- 'Witnesses:

GEORGE WILLIAM MIATT, D. W. GARDNER. 

